Examining the Psychological Elements of Social Media Used by Predators in Sexual Exploitation

February 23, 2017

Hosted by Opal Singleton

Guest Information

Episode Description

Dr. Thomas Howell is a renowned forensic psychologist with over 30 years experience. He has provided over 2000 reports on international child abduction using the Hague Convention and evaluations of adult criminals specializing in insanity pleads. He also has extensive experience in civil cases and juvenile court cases involving juvenile offenders and referrals from the Department of Social Service for children of extensive child abuse of all types and forms. Dr. Thomas has recently been researching and examining the psychological impact social media has on teens and adults as it relates to the vulnerability of grooming by predators. Specifically, he has recently examined the work of Dr. May Aikens in her book, “The Cyber Effect.” Dr. Howell will be presenting significant insights and theories about how the internet makes us all vulnerable to fantasy relationships as we overcome our inhibitions and deny our normal instincts.

EXPLOITED: Crimes Against Humanity

Thursday at 7 AM Pacific Time on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel

This program is designed to educate first responders, civic leaders, social workers, education professionals, faith based leaders and parents about how predators access, groom, recruit and exploit victims into prostitution and sextortion. We analyze real cases from the perspective of Law Enforcement, the victim, and the perpetrator. We look at hard core trafficking cases and how law enforcement is able to intervene. We examine cases of child pornography and the Dark Web. We examine how predators use apps, chatrooms, games and the latest technologies. We discuss the impact of gangs and cartels on human exploitation. We also look at trends in global human trafficking. Our goal is to build a global interactive community of individuals empowered to eradicate human exploitation. EXPLOITED: Crimes Against Humanity is broadcast live every Thursday at 7 AM Pacific Time on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel.

Opal Singleton

Opal Singleton is a global human trafficking and child pornography expert. She has trained tens of thousands of first responders, government and civic leaders, faith based leaders and education administrators about how predators groom and recruit innocent victims into prostitution and exploitation. Opal works with the Riverside County (CA) Anti Human Trafficking Task Force through a Department of Justice grant. Opal sits with parents of missing kids and assists teens in trouble through social media. Opal is the President and CEO of Million Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating child sex trafficking. She has authored a book “Seduced: The Grooming of America’s Teenagers” to educate parents and grandparents and educators about how predators use apps, chatrooms, online video gaming and social media to exploit young people. Opal is on the Board of Rapha House serving human trafficking victims in Cambodia, Thailand and Haiti. She is an Instructor for the USC Sol Price Institute for Safe Communities training law enforcement administrators and is an Instructor for the Los Angeles Fire Training Academy. Opal retired in 2000 after a lifelong career in international marketing having accrued nearly three million frequent flyer miles. Opal is passionate about protecting families and youth from predators and is dedicated to providing an in-depth global interactive internet training program to educate leaders around the world to stop human exploitation and trafficking.